ALEXANDER. 2nd Timothy 4:14-15 Then there are those we know who will not rest until they bring us down somehow. Alexander not only spoke against Paul but “did me much harm." For whatever he did, Paul wanted no personal revenge. However, there are some things and people we must have enough sense to avoid. No matter what you might say, they will undermine you and may even twist your words in a way that may not be true.
Copper was widespread in ancient Rome due to its ease of formation and appealing color for decorative purposes. “Alexander, the coppersmith,” probably made a good living from the wealthy in Rome. The apostle Paul had handed him and Hymanaeus over to Satan to feel the error of their teaching and ways. His harm against Paul revealed his evil heart and led him to witness against Paul. It may have been to his financial advantage to speak against Paul in the court of Nero.
Paul was not vindictive in his words, but he did pray for justice to be done. Righteousness becomes clear when justice is served. God is just in all His ways because He is “of holier eyes than to look upon sin.” God is absolute in His justice against violations against His holiness. Righteous laws with rewards and penalties are used to carry out justice and keep order in society.
Moral excellence requires sinners to be punished for their sins, but in love, God has provided a way for His justice and holiness to be satisfied on behalf of condemned sinners. When a person trusts only in the righteousness of Christ, they can be “justified freely by His grace.” We can be “justified by His blood” because the death of Christ fully satisfied the demands of the perfect law of God. When we put our trust in Christ, we are “justified by faith,” which is complete and lasting because “He has been raised again for our justification.”
Alexander rejected the blessing that could have been his. The Lord understood what needed to happen to him and the outcomes would come in God’s way and time. From this comment, we learn that it is right to pray for justice to be done. Much of what God does is a personal matter between Him and the one who has sinned against Him.